JANUARY 19 



it lasts for a long time in water, and the shiny dark-green 

 leaves look especially well with any white flowers. The 

 more it is out, the better the plant flom^ishes. Every 

 spare piece of wall should have a plant of Choisya against 

 it. It is restrained and yet free in its growth, and is 

 therefore even more useful in small gardens than in large 

 ones. It does very well in light soil, but responds to a 

 httle feeding. I have some giant Violets which I got 

 from the South of IVance ; here, I believe, they are called 

 ' Princess Beatrice.' They are twice the size of Czars, 

 and very sweet. They are doing well in the frame, but 

 look rather draggled and miserable outside ; after all, it is 

 only the end of January. 



In mid- winter my heart warms to the conmion Laurels. 

 In wet winters, especially, they look so flourishing and 

 happy, and they will grow in such bad places. I am sure 

 I shall abuse them so often that I must say, however 

 much they are reduced in a garden, keep some plants 

 in places where few other things would flourish. They 

 will always remain a typical example of Mme. de Stael's 

 good description of evergreens : — ' Le deuil de V6t& 

 et I'ornement de I'hiver.' All hardy fruit-trees, like 

 Jasminum nudiflorum and Ghimonanthus fragrans, are 

 better pruned in January than in February, if the weather 

 make it possible. 



January 22'nd. — I take back to London with me to- 

 day, amongst other things, some Lachenalia aurea. All 

 Lachenalias are worth growing. They are little Cape 

 bulbs, which have to be treated like the Preezias, watered 

 as long as the leaves are green, and then dried. They 

 aU force well, and L. aurea flowers earlier than the other 

 Lachenalias, and is very pretty and effective. This 

 variety has the great merit of being a true yellow by 

 candle-light. 



Walking along the streets to-day, I stopped to look at 



c2 



